Bio

Paul Everette Woodward was born on January 17, 1948. He grew up in a small town in Mississippi. As a child, Woodward faced a difficult upbringing. Information about his early life is limited, but it is known that he had several issues throughout his youth.

He had a troubled childhood that included problems at home and with the law. These issues may have contributed to his later behavior. In his teenage years, he began to get into trouble and had several confrontations with the law. He lived in an environment that did not provide the support he needed, and this may have impacted his mental health.

As he grew older, Woodward took on various jobs. At one point, he worked as a logger, which involved heavy physical labor. He was described as a large man, standing around 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing over 300 pounds in his later years.

Woodward had a complicated family life. He was married and had several children, but details about his relationships and family dynamics are sparse. His life was marked by struggles that would later overshadow his future. Despite these challenges, there is little public information regarding his education or personal interests.

Throughout his early life, Woodward's actions and choices would eventually lead him down a dark path, culminating in serious criminal activity. However, this account focuses only on his early life before these events unfolded.

Murder Story

On July 23, 1986, Paul Everette Woodward kidnapped, raped, and murdered Rhonda Crane, who was 24 years old at the time. Rhonda was traveling on Mississippi Highway 29 in Perry County to meet her family for a camping trip when Woodward, driving a logging truck, forced her vehicle to stop. He threatened her with a pistol and ordered her into his truck.

After kidnapping her, Woodward took Rhonda to a secluded area in the woods. There, he assaulted her. He then shot her in the back of the head, killing her instantly. Rhonda's car was left abandoned on the highway, with the engine still running and her belongings inside.

The following day, Rhonda's father discovered her body in the woods. Paul Woodward was arrested soon after, and he ultimately made both written and videotaped confessions to the crime. He confessed to his employer as well.

Woodward was tried and found guilty of capital murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. He was sentenced to death in 1987. After a lengthy appeals process, he was executed by lethal injection in Mississippi on May 19, 2010. At the time of his execution, he made a request to say the Lord's Prayer. He was pronounced dead at 6:39 PM.

Rhonda Crane's family had waited many years for justice, and her sister expressed relief at finally seeing Woodward executed.